The beautiful Coogee Oval saw M1s winning the toss & electing to bowl first against Randwick, who made a positive start early. Jacob O’Sullivan made the first breakthrough, before the Tahs’ bowlers really started to turn the screws when Bertie Foreman picked up the dangerous opener. The score shifting from 1/97 to 6/144 as Foreman, Josh Seward & Andrew Boulton built pressure through the middle overs & shared wickets. Unfortunately, the death overs didn’t go to plan, as Randwick’s #7 propelled his side to 7/272 with some incredible ball striking. Their late momentum continued into the Tahs’ chase, the top order falling cheaply to leave the score 5/31 before Ahillen Beadle (28) & O’Sullivan (81) consolidated briefly. A 71 run partnership between O’Sullivan & Lachie Coyte (31) gave the Tahs a chance, the former in particularly fine form with some lovely boundaries. But ultimately it wasn’t enough, as the final few wickets fell quickly to see the Tahs all out for 192.
M2s got their first hit out on Manly Oval, asked to bowl first after losing the toss. Randwick were off to a flying start in the first 10 overs, and this continued throughout as their openers combined for a 107 run partnership. Wickets to Lachie & Zach Trewartha briefly halted momentum, but Randwick again took the ascendancy at 2/183. The Tahs fought back strongly late, Roop Dhillon (5/20) with an incredible 7 over spell, as Randwick posted 8/254. In reply, it was a case of never being able to find consistent momentum. Early wickets had the Tahs on the back foot, and just as little partnerships built, more would fall. Sam Hole (36) & Isaiah Vumbaca (37) the only two batters to offer any considerable resistance, as the Tahs were bowled out for 133 in reply.
Sam Webber’s M3s side were at Petersham Oval, winning the toss & batting. The skipper himself (68) was the anchor early on in the innings, holding things together before building an excellent partnership with Reuben Kapoor (64) to set the foundation for the Tahs’ innings. Both batting with great composure in their half-centuries, until Ollie Melville (24*) finished off the innings with some clever batting. The Tahs posting 7/206. Big Michael Counsell struck early to have Randwick on the back foot, but the game was well in the balance at 2/53. Enter Julian Osbourne, who tore the heart out of the Randwick middle order with an exceptional 4 wicket spell, before returning later to pick up his 5th & 6th. Counsell also ending with 2fa, and one to Josh Coyte, the Tahs bowling Randwick out for 110 to secure a bonus point victory.
M4s were back at Grahams for the first time in 2024/25, skipper Adam Parkinson winning the toss & batting. The openers began strongly before Jack Melchiore (82) and Keelan Mendel (44) really built the foundation of the Tahs innings with a 108 run partnership. The former’s anchor role of 82 off 118 in particular setting the Tahs up to launch late in the innings, and the boys did exactly that. Cameos from Liam Dinan (20) & Kai Croft (30), but it was Myles Kapoor that led the way late with 48* off 31, to propel the Tahs to 7/281. With the ball, the Tahs continued the momentum of the batting innings & maintained ascendancy the whole time. Wickets to James Waddington, Kapoor & George Cumming, the latter of whom picked up 3/18 in a tight 8 over spell, had the Tahs in control. But it was Croft who was the highlight continuing his all-round day, with an excellent spell resulting in figures of 5/25. Locking away a bonus point win for the Tahs by a massive 210 run margin.
Snape Oval in Petersham was the venue for M5s, sent into bat first by Randwick. Jack Donnan (35) & Lukas Overhoff (71) consolidated after an early wicket, combining for a 73 run stand, the latter compiling a free-flowing 71 off 76 balls. Skipper Simon Waddington (38) continued the momentum with some typically smart batting, but the Tahs lost their way a little through the middle as the score moved to 7/189 after a few quick wickets. Important quickfire cameos late in the innings from Adam Searle (31) & Nathan Pryke (23) helping the Tahs post 238. The bowling innings was one of great consistency as all bowlers played their role. Will Matheson (2/15) picking up the first two, along with one to Zac Buchanan. Followed by a couple of run outs from Donnan & Pryke through the middle courtesy of some excellent fielding. Pryke (2/17) & Searle (3/13) combining again, this time with the ball, to dismiss Randwick’s middle & lower order with tidy spells. Randwick all out for 100, as the Tahs recorded a bonus point 138 run win.
The women’s season also kicked off this weekend, W3s getting things started at Balgowlah Oval on Saturday. Asked to bowl first, Holly Searles picked up an early wicket on debut, but Sydney fought back with a big partnership to take control of the game. All Tahs’ bowlers fought strongly through the middle overs, Searles leading the way with 3/35, supported by wickets to skipper Sallie Molyneux, Charlie Woods, Emily Hatfield & Hannah McPhail. Sydney posting 8/189. Unfortunately, the Tahs were never really able to gather the ascendancy in the run chase, and despite the best efforts of Grace Pike (28) & Jasmin Wilson (20) with some great boundary hitting, it wasn’t enough for the Tahs, bowled out for 89 in reply.
Sunday saw a women’s T20 triple header at Harold Fraser Reserve against St George-Sutherland. Brewers kicked things off, sent into bat first. Keira Terrey made a positive start with 21, but regular wickets through the middle meant it was difficult for the Tahs to gain momentum. Skipper Arabella Handley stepping up under pressure with a captain’s knock of 43* off 37 balls to guide the team to a competitive 5/93 at the conclusion of the innings. With the ball, the Tahs’ bowlers were mostly economical, and despite breakthroughs to Lara Hughes & Sonia Punter, ultimately the Slayers built solid partnerships throughout and there were just too few runs to defend. St George-Sutherland passing the total in the 19th over.
W2s were next to take the field as Gabby Dunnage led the side out for her first time as skipper. Fielding first after losing the toss, the Slayers made a strong start and built steady partnerships through the first half of the innings, before the Tahs fought back in the second half to restrict the overall total. Darcey Whiteley the pick of the bowlers with 2/19 from 4, supported by wickets to Sienna James, Erica Sharma, & Handley. A late flurry of runs in the last couple of overs though propelling the Slayers to 7/126. Needing to go at over a run-a-ball from the get go in the chase, it was going to be tough, but the Tahs fought hard, led by Charlotte Croll up the top of the order with a valiant 31. Sister Annabelle also with 16* late, but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough, as the Tahs ultimately fell 32 runs short.
Sunday concluded with the W1s fixture, a new look Tahs side in the field first. Chelsea McLerie was disciplined in the early overs with an important breakthrough, however, the Slayers consolidated to build a formidable partnership through the middle. Debutant Megan Sturge halted the momentum briefly, but the Slayers continued their charge until a late overs fightback from the Tahs. A further two wickets to McLerie & one to Eliza Henry, as the Slayers posted 5/156. A tough ask indeed, but the Tahs began sprightly in reply with Lizzie Cambridge (41*) & Sturge (23) taking the attack to the Slayers’ bowlers. However, as the required run rate crept up, wickets tumbled, and despite a late partnership from skipper Katie Letcher & McLerie, the Tahs just had too many to chase, finishing 5/115.
All in all a tough weekend for the Tahs as the men’s lower grades flew the flag on an otherwise disappointing round of results. However, one thing is for sure, it’s only early in the season and the Tahs will fight tooth & nail to keep improving, and get back to some more positive form in coming weeks.
The upcoming weekend sees the Men’s grades move into red-ball cricket, Day 1 of two-day fixtures against Mosman. Battle of the Spit Bridge. M1s, M3s & M5s at home. Meanwhile, W3s are on the road against Sydney University, and Sunday has Manly Oval hosting a women’s triple header, W1s, W2s & Brewers taking on Parramatta.
Until then, up the Tahs.
